Whale Heritage Sites Summit
The Whale Heritage Sites scheme will be launched at the Whale Heritage Sites Summit in Horta, Faial, the Azores, on 28-29 October 2015. At this two day meeting, representatives from tourist destinations, international institutions and the private sector will come together with global experts in tourism, sustainability and whale watching to discuss the Whale Heritage Sites concept and agree the criteria for site designation.
Interested parties will be invited and encouraged to attend the conference and input into discussions. The agreed criteria will then be taken forward in a pilot project in the Azores, to attempt to establish the World’s first Whale Heritage Site in 2016. Other destinations interested in achieving Whale Heritage Site status will be invited to register their interest at the Summit.
The Whale Heritage Sites summit will form part of a five day programme which will also include the World Whale Conference, as well as a full day workshop on Whale Heritage Site designation for Azorean stakeholders.
Full Itinerary
Conference venue: Teatro Faialense, Horta, Faial, Azores, Portugal
Monday 26 October: World Whale Conference and AGM
– Global programmes to protect cetaceans
Tuesday 27 October: World Whale Conference and AGM
– Global programmes to protect cetaceans
Wednesday 28 October: Whale Heritage Sites Summit – Day 1
– Welcome, celebrity keynote speech, presentations, defining criteria, discussions
Thursday 29 October: Whale Heritage Sites Summit – Day 2
– Presentations about Azores, endorsement from celebrities and experts, next steps, launch, launch party
Friday 30 October: Workshop: Azores – planning for Whale
Heritage Site status
– Meeting of Azores stakeholders to agree Azores Whale Festival plans and discuss improving standards for whale watching
Contact WHS
+44 (0)1273 355 011
Studio 3, Lower Promenade, Madeira Drive, Brighton, BN2 1ET, UK